So you have a new AR. How to test?

[Ron3]

Oh sure, we'd like to shoot 250 rounds through it each day for a week or two starting cleaned and lubricated and adding some more lube now and then, but what can we do short of that to be "pretty sure" we have a working rifle with fewer rounds?

I'm thinking fire a couple mags before any functional modifications to be sure it works.

Then change out the trigger, choose an optic, etc.

Then do the real testing. What's a good procedure?

I've had bad history with AR's.

[Wake27]

Honestly it depends on the manufacturer for me. If it’s one that I consider to be known quality, I’d probably be ok with two full mags.


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[rjacobs]

lube the gun and cycle the gun by hand 500-1000 times. That will do a lot of the wearing in without shooting it.

Shoot a few mags through it. Shoot a few mags with a single round in the mag to make sure it locks back on empty.

[Esq.]

John Farnhams rifle classes all feature a "burn down"....100 rounds of continuous fire stopping only to change magazines.

[lysander]

John Farnhams rifle classes all feature a "burn down"....100 rounds of continuous fire stopping only to change magazines.

That would just hurt the barrel.

For the rest of the gun, 100 round at 10 rpm would be just as good to "break it in".

As for the OP's question - one or two magazine is all I need to know if the rifle is going to give me trouble or not.

[Ron3]

Good tips.

Hand-cycling definitely a good one.

I was thinking firing the first two to four rounds from full mags and also firing mags loaded with just two rounds.

And starting with 5.56 M193, later trying JHP's / BT's / JSP's.

[Five_Point_Five_Six]

Good tips.

Hand-cycling definitely a good one.

I was thinking firing the first two to four rounds from full mags and also firing mags loaded with just two rounds.

And starting with 5.56 M193, later trying JHP's / BT's / JSP's.

You're overthinking it. Go shoot it with whatever ammo you have. Hand cycling will do nothing.

[seb5]

You're overthinking it. Go shoot it with whatever ammo you have. Hand cycling will do nothing.

Except wear out the CH...............

[georgeib]

Except wear out the CH...............

That's what grease is for.

[RUTGERS95]

1000 rounds no lube or cleaning with various types of ammo including steel. This is cumulative and not in one session unless you have the time and ammo obviously. I personally do it in 2 500 round outings. Lube masks issues and your stick should run with or without lube (obviously lube is recommended in most circumstances). Once you've done this, and it's reliably gone through with no issues then it's reliable. Brand or home build should not matter, to think otherwise is foolish and rookie thinking. I've yet to have an AR that did not pass this test except one but If say which one, the butthurt is going to be profound.